How was your ride today? (week of August 13)

Submitted by Richard Z on

Back in Calgary after four weeks enjoying Vienna's bike infrastructure. Haven't been out yet - what should I watch out for?

Forums: 

hard to believe

Submitted by Julie Gregg on

Yesterday I headed out as usual but about 4 blocks from home realized I didn't have on my helmet. Isn't that a bit like forgetting your underwear? Felt so exposed after that moment - same on the way home, really missed my helmet - how did I leave without it? yes, I did wear it today :)

I thought it was just me that

Submitted by Charlie on

I thought it was just me that did that! Last winter I got halfway to work and realized that I was only wearing my cycling hat that keeps my ears warm, but no helmet. Nice fashion statement, I am sure...Sad part is that it took me 10-15 minutes to realize I wasn't wearing the helmet.

lights

Submitted by Dionysis on

While travelling in this morning at 6:15, I saw a grand total of 5 bikes not one of which had any lights on their bikes.  And all of these riders were on the streets, not on the pathways.  One guy was even riding while holding a coffee in one hand!


Time to get the lights out all you early risers and save the coffee for when you get to your destination.  Wink

Cold

Submitted by amf673 on

Chilly this morning! That must have been a cold front that came through yesterday.

I saw a large tree across the south Bow River pathway just east of Crowchild Br.

The southbound 10 St bike lane is full of glass near the SAIT bus stop. Vandals or wind?

Seen and heard on the MUP today

Submitted by snowandscience on

Trekked home from U of C a bit later than usual tonight - final exam grading day for the summer course I'm teaching. Students did pretty well too! Saw some interesting things when off regular commuter hours: 

- 3 joggers in 2 separate groups on only 1 km of MUP on my route (29 St to Crowchild) who refused to leave the path when politely informed that they were running on a dedicated cycle route. Sorry joggers, you look great in lululemon pants, but I don't want you in my space. 

- "Mommy can I get a fold-up bike too" after I passed a family and gave the kid a friendly nod for staying to the right on the path. Good work mom! Now go get the kid a new bike! 

- Nicely paved new route home - back alley just south of the tracks on 10 Ave SW. Cross the CPR at the level crossing by Pumphouse theatre, turn immediately left and follow the fresh pavement under Sunalta Station (WLRT) to the intersection of 15 St and 10 Ave SW. Take 10 Ave into the beltline. Win. 

The paved service lane behind

Submitted by Chealion on

The paved service lane behind the Sunalta Station has been paved for a month now - I hope it stays quiet (car wise) as it's a much nicer transition from the MUP near the Pumphouse to 10th than the existing infrastructure.

great news!

Submitted by critninja on

I am going to check out that new section as soon as i can.

Does anyone know if the City did this do address the lack of space on 10 Ave for a bike lane?

IMO 10 Ave SW between 14 st and Crowchild is very bike unfriendly for all but the most confident of cyclists - perhaps this new section is exactly whats needed to help folks connect the pathway system to 10 Ave SW and 15 St SW bikeway.

As far as I know it's only

Submitted by Chealion on

As far as I know it's only just a service lane for the CTrain station (as there's a traction substation at the base of the Sunalta Station). There's not supposed to be any parking back there either (at least according to the original plans) even though there is lots of dead space under the tracks at the moment. Alderman Mar might know more.

I've been using it everytime I come off the Bow River Pathway to avoid the blind corner where the MUP directs you to the incredibly narrow sidewalk on 10th.

Definitely agree 10th Ave is very bike unfriendly; especially the last block past 18th St - before that it's just intimidating.

militant peds?

Submitted by critninja on

I am seeing more comments on various social media networks than usual lately from cyclists complaining about joggers/walkers who refuse to use the separate walking paths when they are available. A female friend of mine even tried to tell a runner that he was on the wrong path and received an explicative-laden dressing down from the runner which was so nasty she felt like she had been verbally assaulted - simply because she was trying to make things better out there for everyone.

Joggers/runners/walkers - please use your own path when available. We cyclists promise to do the same.

just assholes?

Submitted by mikewarren on

I guess this is another example that there are assholes on every sort of conveyance, including feet.

The only time I told some runners maybe the 20+ of them could use the "other" path, I got yelled at too and told they were allowed to because it was "winter" (technically, it was still, but all 9000 other runners had figured out that dry paths are dry paths). I don't bother any more.

True, actually

Submitted by critninja on

I've cycled quite a bit in Montreal and on top of the fact that there is virtually no bell ringing on the pathways, walkers, strollers, everyone really seems to get along just fine and knows how to be patient when passing other users.

In Calgary, different story all together.

I also think it is more attitudinal than anything else.

Runners/Ear buds

Submitted by kingstrup on

I am amazed the runners on the path can hear our comments (good and bad) anyways.  By my count 80%-90% of the runners are wearing ear buds.  Forget the bell and the "common courtesy", they don't want to hear it.

ear buds

Submitted by mikewarren on

Why do you believe earbuds mean total deafness? I wear headphones a lot of the time riding and I can hear traffic noise (and espeically bells) just fine.

As long as people stay on their side I can live with it...

Submitted by rustabout1981 on

Sometime in the fall or winter the designation changes - It becomes multi-use.
The pathways are seperated in the summertime which makes sense to prevent traffic jams. When the pathways are multi-use there is typically way less traffic and the odd runner is unlikely to slow down someone on a bike. And the city can focus on clearing snow only where it is most needed.

When they do this they mark the pathway as multi-use (they change the signs). The running only pathways are usually not ploughed. The snow usually gets packed from peoples footprints. Depending on the weather and freeze thaws they can get really slippery. I would never ask someone to run on this just so I had a clear pathway.

I commute by both running and biking. When I would run the ploughed pathways had way more grip. Cyclists were muttering something at me as they passed - most likely some form of a complaint. But given the low volume of traffic I wasn't creating any sort of real inconvenience for them.

The big running groups create problems for everyone. They are even rude to other runners so I think it's a lost cause :-(.

Ask if they are part of a running club

Submitted by BowCycle on

There is an advertisement component to some of the groups. If they are a running group organized by a local store (franchise) , then you could contact the store and tell them of the indiscretions of their running group. I know with the teams we are associated with, an email is sent out to the members about proper behaviour on the roads. With our name on the jersey we are more identifiable to the average person and will get a phone call. I have not gotten a phone call in a couple of years, but if I see a team member doing something that brings a bad light to cycling I will email the team and mention it.

Glad you mentioned that. On

Submitted by Julie Gregg on

Glad you mentioned that. On more than one occasion I have considered doing just that. Some organizations hold "learn to run" clinics, I believe part of that would be to observe proper protocol on the running paths. Thanks!

MUP crossing?

Submitted by asiawalker on

I hope someone can clarify this for me:
This morning I was heading east on the MUP just before the 4th St. SE bridge when another cyclist cut across my path to get to the westbound lane. Does he have to yield to oncoming traffic (logical), or was I in the wrong by not yielding to him to let him cross the path? I braked hard and nearly did an over the handlebars flip trying not to T-bone him, and I'm just trying to figure out just how indignant I should be Tongue out

I'm trying to guess what happened:

Submitted by rustabout1981 on

You were heading East on the MUP. And they were entering the main MUP from one of the access points and turning left to start heading West on the MUP. I hope I got this right.

I would say common sense dictates the other cyclist was in the wrong. In a vehicle this would be similar to being at a 'T' intersection where they had the stop sign. Secondly you had to slow in order to avoid them. Instead the could have simply waited for you. They created a major inconvenience for you without really saving themselves any time.

If I had to compare this to an uncontrolled intersection in a 3rd world country the vehicle with the momentum has the right of way.

From what I've seen you just have to be prepared to react to bad decisions by other people. I'm guessing he probably didn't even look when he entered the pathway.

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